October 20, 2016 (New York) The We Need Diverse Books™ team is proud to partner with Madcap Retreats to run a series of diversity-themed author retreats.

The partnership will present two affordable, workshop-based retreats for 2017. Writing Cross-Culturally will focus on how one can diversify their writing and learn to write cross-culturally responsibly, while the Diverse Aspiring Authors retreat will give authors from marginalized backgrounds craft workshops, industry 101 information, and ways to navigate the roadblocks of the current publishing climate.

“We Need Diverse Books is joining forces with Madcap to address a real need – lifting up marginalized voices while also showing writers how to write outside of their communities in a careful, diligent and thorough way,” says We Need Diverse Books COO Dhonielle Clayton. “The workshops will be guided by published authors who’ve tackled these issues with grace, offering feedback and mentorship in an intimate, low-key setting. We’ll also incorporate sessions that focus on polishing and marketing your work.”

“Workshops and retreats are powerful tools, but they can be difficult to access. The goal of Madcap Retreats is to bring writers and mentors into creative community in structured, small-group settings while also keeping costs reasonable. We are excited to be partnering with WNDB to broaden our scope and continue learning,” says Madcap Retreats Director Natalie C. Parker.

The first spring Writing Cross Culturally retreat will kickoff in March 2017. It will be headlined by Daniel Jose Older, Leigh Bardugo, and Nicola Yoon. A summer Diverse Aspiring Authors will follow. The second Writing Cross Culturally retreat in 2018 will be headlined by Laurie Halse Anderson and Marie Lu.

We Need Diverse Books™ is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 2014 to address the lack of diverse representation in the children’s publishing industry. More about the organization is available at www.diversebooks.org.